Patent classifications
A61B1/00062
CORDLESS DISPOSABLE ENDOSCOPE
A cordless endoscope assembly includes a housing, an endoscope tube and an eyepiece. Electronics are housed in the housing and operable to operate one or more light sources in the endoscope, the electronics including one or more batteries and a printed circuit board. The housing includes a connector configured to removably couple with a cannula connector of a cannula when the endoscope tube is inserted through the cannula. The cordless endoscope is a disposable single use endoscope that can optionally be sterilized with an ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization process.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENFORCED PROVISIONING AND COMPLIANT USAGE AUTHORIZATION OF ENDOSCOPE APPLICATIONS
An endoscope apparatus capable of ensuring safe and compliant use includes an endoscope, a means for identification of the endoscope, a means for determining whether the endoscope is suitable for a given medical act utilizing the identification of the endoscope, and a disablement means that prevents utilization of the endoscope when determined the endoscope is not suitable for the given medical act. The identification may be on a tag fixed to the endoscope and/or container. The information is checked for a match in a cloud database to ensure the endoscope is the right device for the medical act. If not the right device, the endoscope is deactivated. If the right device, the endoscope is activated and the cloud database is updated accordingly. The cloud database can also be updated at each point in the distribution chain to allow complete traceability.
Endoscope field stop encoding system and method
An endoscopic camera system has an endoscope having a field stop encoded with endoscope information; a camera head coupleable to the endoscope, the camera head generating image data including the endoscope information; and a camera control unit coupleable to the camera head to receive image data from the camera head; and wherein the camera control unit is configured to analyze the endoscope information to identify the endoscope coupled to the camera head.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONNECTING A MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE TO A MEDICAL IMAGING CONTROLLER
A cable for connecting a medical imaging device to a medical imaging controller includes a first connector located at a distal end of the cable for connecting to the imaging device, a second connector located at a proximal end for connecting to the medical imaging controller, a circuit board comprising at least one memory that stores at least authentication information associated with the cable. The circuit board is communicatively connected via a communication bus on the circuit board to the second connector for enabling access to the authentication information by the medical imaging controller. One or more imaging communication lines extend between the first connector and the second connector for communicating imaging data from the medical imaging device to the medical imaging controller. The one or more imaging communication lines bypass the communication bus on the circuit board.
Medical borescopes and related tip assemblies
Medical borescopes and related methods. In some embodiments, a medical borescope may comprise a handle and a tube extending from the handle. The tube may be partially, or wholly, defined by an at least substantially non-conductive material, such as a suitable plastic, ceramic, or other non-metallic material. The borescope may further comprise a tip assembly positioned at a distal end of the tube, which may comprise an image sensor configured to take images through the distal end of the tube.
SELF-AUTHENTICATING INTRAVASCULAR DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS
A method of authorizing a limited use intravascular device can include determining if the intravascular device is in communication with a clinical system; determining if the intravascular device is authorized for clinical operation without providing the clinical system access to intravascular device data stored on the intravascular device; and providing an authorization signal to the clinical system. An intravascular device can include a flexible elongate member including a sensing component at a distal portion and a connector at a proximal portion, the connector including: a memory component configured to store a parameter value; a processing component; and a charge storage component configured to power the memory component and/or the processing component; wherein the processing component is configured to determine if the flexible elongate member is authorized for clinical operation using the parameter value without providing the parameter value to a clinical system.
Apparatus and method to link medical device sterilization equipment
A communication hub provides communication between a number of medical device processing components within a network. A user may access the communication hub via a user device such as a smartphone or computer and monitor and manage configurations and information relating to the medical device processing components. Features include the ability to view current status of medical device processing components in order to identify a device that is available for current use, to receive notifications of failed or completed tasks on devices, to disable or enable devices remotely, to view statistics and data visualizations of the performance and use of devices, and other similar features.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TISSUE CONTACT DETECTION AND FOR AUTO-EXPOSURE AND ILLUMINATION CONTROL
A system includes a controller communicatively coupled to an illuminator and to a camera configured to capture a scene including tissue. The controller may change the output optical power of the illuminator from a first output optical power to a second output optical power so that a subsequently captured frame is captured by the camera from reflected light, the reflected light being light from the illuminator having the second output optical power prior to being reflected. The controller may determine that an endoscope contacted the tissue if the change of the output optical power of the illuminator results in a change of a reflected luminance that is less than a predetermined threshold, the change of the reflected luminance being a change from a first reflected luminance for the first output optical power to a second reflected luminance for the second output optical power.
ENDOSCOPY SYSTEM AND LIGHT SOURCE OF AN ENDOSCOPY SYSTEM
An endoscopy system including: an endoscope; a light source; an optical cable connecting the light source to the endoscope; wherein the endoscope includes at least one bundle of endoscope optical fibers; the cable includes at least one bundle of cable optical fibers; a light source coupling point provided where light is coupled into the cable optical fibers; an endoscope coupling point provided where light is coupled from the cable optical fibers into the endoscope optical fibers; and the light source is configured to selectively illuminate individual cable optical fibers or groups of cable optical fibers at the light source coupling point, the light source including a controller to control the light source such that at least some of the cable optical fibers not coupled to endoscope optical fibers at the endoscope coupling point are not illuminated by the light source.
Device for counting sterilization cycles
A device for counting sterilization cycles during the sterilization of medical instruments and devices includes a counter for recording and reproducing a number of sterilization cycles, an actuation unit for sterilization parameter-dependent actuation of the counter, and a locking unit for sterilization parameter-dependent locking the counter. The actuation unit actuates the counter upon exceeding a first threshold sterilization parameter. The locking unit locks the counter after an actuation has been carried out and/or after exceeding a second threshold sterilization parameter, and unlocks the counter after not meeting a third threshold sterilization parameter.